Nigerian actor Aremu Afolayan has reconciled with his brother, renowned filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, after years of public tension. The emotional reunion took place during the wake-keep ceremony for their mother, who passed away on November 2 at the age of 81.
The brothers’ rift, which began in 2018, had captured public attention when Kunle, in an interview, referred to Aremu as “stupid.” The tension escalated when Aremu publicly accused Kunle of not supporting their father, who, according to him, lived in poverty despite Kunle’s fame and success. Since then, Aremu had been vocal in his grievances, including a 2023 outburst where he criticized the family for not gifting him a car.
However, at the wake-keep on Friday, Aremu tearfully opened up about their mother’s efforts to mend their relationship before her death. He revealed that their mother had consistently prayed for their reconciliation, making repeated attempts to bring them together despite their long-standing differences.
“My greatest joy today is what has been difficult for me for over 40 years,” Aremu shared. “My mother gave it to me one day because my brother and I don’t talk, but my mother made us talk. She didn’t stop praying because I am the black sheep in the family.”
Aremu recalled how their mother had also intervened in their childhood disputes, including an incident where Kunle punched him for refusing to go to school. “She tried a lot because I had run away from her many times when they said I should go to school,” Aremu said.
In a moment of heartfelt reflection, Aremu apologized for his past public attacks on Kunle. He acknowledged the efforts their mother made in keeping the family together, and expressed deep gratitude for the reconciliation that took place during such a challenging time.
